Redhawks lose two-game lead in OVC

~ Murray State rallied for a 5-3 victory in the first game and won 13-9 in the nightcap

Southeast Missouri State's starting pitcher did not make it out of the first inning of either game Sunday.

They didn't even come close, in fact.

That sums up the type of day it was for the Redhawks, who were swept in a doubleheader by Murray State although Southeast wasn't all that far from pulling off a sweep of its own.

Visiting MSU was down to its last strike in the top of the seventh inning of the opener when star senior Wes Cunningham blasted a game-tying home run.

Southeast Missouri State first baseman Brett Russell, left, celebrates with teammates Jim Klocke, center, and Kirk Boeller after making a play to end Murray State's sixth inning during the first game Sunday at Capaha Field. (LAURA SIMON)

MSU went on to win 5-3 in eight innings, then scored seven runs in the first inning of the nightcap and held off a furious Southeast rally before locking down a 13-9 victory.

That came after Saturday's scheduled doubleheader was rained out, trimming the series from three games to a pair. Both Sunday contests were scheduled for seven innings, per Ohio Valley Conference rules.

"We fought hard in both games but we couldn't come out with two wins," senior catcher Jim Klocke said. "They're a solid club and you have to give them credit."

Southeast, which entered the day having lost just three of 21 games at Capaha Field this season, stayed atop the OVC standings.

But the Redhawks (26-17, 10-6) had their league lead sliced to percentage points over second-place MSU (21-21, 8-5).

Murray State players emerge from the dugout Sunday after teammate Kyle Tiernan hit a two-run home run during the eighth inning of the first game of a doubleheader against Southeast Missouri State at Capaha Field. Wes Cunningham (38) had forced extra innings with a two-out home run in the seventh. The Thoroughbreds won 5-3 and went on to sweep Southeast. (LAURA SIMON)

"We didn't do a good job this weekend," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose squad has two OVC series remaining compared to three for MSU and several of the other clubs near the top of the league. "It's going to be a dogfight.

"I like our club and I like our chances, but to lay an egg today was disappointing. We had a chance to distance ourselves from some teams."

Junior college transfer left-hander Logan Mahon recorded just one out in the first inning of the opener before being removed after MSU scored two runs and had men on second and third.

Juco transfer right-hander Nick Thomas, the reigning OVC pitcher of the week, then gave the Redhawks every opportunity to triumph with a strong relief performance.

But Southeast's high-powered offense, which entered play fourth nationally with a .359 batting average and was scoring nearly nine runs per game, managed just three hits. None of the hits came after the third inning.

"That's unbelievable," Hogan said. "You have to tip your hat to a great performance by their pitchers."

The Redhawks were fortunate to even hold a late lead. They scored two fifth-inning runs without the benefit of a hit to go ahead 3-2.

It looked like that would be enough for Thomas, who was into his seventh inning of work without allowing a run when one of the OVC's premier players came through.

With two outs and a 2-2 count, Cunningham blasted a homer well beyond the right-center field wall.

Thomas, who did not figure into the decision and remained 6-0, allowed four hits and the lone run in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two.

"He threw very well," Hogan said.

Cunningham's heroics did not surprise MSU coach Rob McDonald.

"Nothing he does surprises me," McDonald said of Cunningham, who is batting .425 and ranks high in most of the OVC's offensive categories. "He's got to be one of the best hitters in the country."

MSU went ahead for good in the top of the eighth as freshman closer Shae Simmons from Scott City faltered for one of the few times this year.

After picking off a runner he had walked for the second out of the inning, Simmons allowed a double to Cory Hodskins, and Kyle Tiernan drilled a two-run homer to right. It was just Tiernan's second home run of the season.

Simmons suffered his first loss to fall to 3-1. He also has five saves.

"Two mistake pitches," Hogan said of the deliveries to Cunningham and Tiernan. "Both were supposed to be breaking balls down in the dirt."

The pitching star for MSU was left-hander Matt McGaha, who worked the final four innings in hitless fashion.

Sophomore shortstop Kenton Parmley homered in the third inning, his ninth home run of the season, to account for Southeast's first run.

Juco transfer left-hander Jordan Underwood did not record an out in the nightcap as he was removed after allowing five hits.

Underwood (4-4), who was relieved by senior right-hander Kyle Gumieny, wound up being charged with six runs -- three earned.

Elliott Frey's two-run homer off Gumieny capped the big inning.

Southeast's offense returned to form in this game, but the Redhawks never could catch the Thoroughbreds.

Cunningham's school-record 17th homer of the season, a three-run shot off Gumieny in the fourth inning, made it 10-4.

The Redhawks got within 11-9 but Zach Noonan's two-run homer in the seventh provided some breathing room.

"I never felt comfortable," McDonald said of a nightcap that saw Southeast strand 11 runners. "They showed a lot of character, but so did we. I was real proud of our guys, the way they battled."

Southeast had 13 hits, including Tim Rupp's second homer of the season. He drove in three runs.

Juco transfer left fielder Michael Adamson had three hits, while Klocke and juco transfer first baseman Brett Russell both added two hits.

MSU also had a big second game offensively with 14 hits and three more homers as the Thoroughbreds finished the day with five homers compared to two for Southeast. The Redhawks also allowed five unearned runs in the nightcap.

"They beat us with the home run today," Hogan said.

Juco transfer third baseman Casey Jones, the OVC's leading hitter at .439, had a hit in each contest as he extended his hitting streak to 17 games, the longest current streak in the conference.

Junior right fielder Louie Haseltine saw his 17-game hitting streak end in the opener.

Despite the dismal day, Klocke remains confident in the Redhawks.

"This is a good team," he said.

Southeast returns to action Wednesday with a 4 p.m. nonconference home game against NAIA Mid-Contintent University (9-36) from Mayfield, Ky.